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<strong>PlayStation Banned?</strong> <img src="/images/Playstation.jpg" alt="Playstation" width="8" height="8">
<font size="1">[ Lee_yoshi - March 29 2005 - 1:47 PM ]</font>

<P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today have been ruled by the courts of Northern California to stop selling their PlayStation brand consoles, Dual Shock Controllers, and upto 47 games which use a certain patented touch feedback technology which Sony have been infringing on. These are the current results of a long fight, so allow me to fill you in!</FONT></P><P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><IMG alt="The Immersion Corporation - Creator of such Touch Feedback Technology" hspace=3 src="http://ragol.warcrafttavern.com/uploads/news_images/immersion.gif" align=left border=1>In February 2002, the Immersion Corporation (A developer of Touch Feedback Technology) filed lawsuits against both Sony and Microsoft when it was discovered that both companies were using a force feedback technology that Immersion had patented in their games machines controllers (PlayStation 2 and Xbox respectively). So they decided to take their monies worth after this was being done without the knowledge of Immersion.</FONT></P><P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><IMG style="WIDTH: 213px; HEIGHT: 228px" alt="PlayStation2 &amp; Dual Shock Controllers are both infringing the patents" hspace=1 src="http://ragol.warcrafttavern.com/uploads/news_images/playstation2_console.gif" align=right border=0>Microsoft ended the case in July 2003 by settling with Immersion for $26million (Bill Gates pocket money no doubt!) and also taking a stake from them at the sametime! Sony however decided to stay and fight, and in September&nbsp;21st 2004 the courts favoured Immersion, ordering Sony to pay $82million for the infringements. Due to interest though since the original September decision, when Sony didnt give up the fight, Sony now owe over $90million to the Immersion Corporation from the new judgement made March 24th 2005, in which the U.S. District courts of the Northern Californian District also issued a permanment injunction against the manufacturing, use, sale and import of the Sony PlayStation branded consoles, Dual Shock controllers, and 47 games using the technology, infringing the patents.</FONT></P><P><FONT face=Arial>Sony are arguing that the technology being used in their Dual Shock accessories is both simple and taken from prior art made from before Immersions patents. Sony are of course likely to appeal the decision of the court rulings, meaning the case continues further. This itself though is likely to have a HUGE impact on Sony's future in parts of America.</FONT></P>

I heard about this also recently. I'm not suprised that Microsoft paid up and came to a deal but Sony going the hard route has stunned me.

Does anyone know if the ban is immeadiate in the USA or if it has a time limit like when the World Wrestling Federation lost to the World Wildlife Foundation and had to change its name to World Wrestling Entertainment because both companies called themselves the WWF.

Hmmm, evil nhilistic thought time, will this mean Resi Evil 4 will be cancelled on the PS2. Ok, silliness over.

Can you imagine the sales of PS2 consoles now, if they are only going to be available in the US for x months then banned until the dispute is resolved. I've heard comments about everyone in Japan having 4 PS2 consoles but can you imagine the panic buying in the States.... "Yeep Jethro... I got me ay-teen of them damn fine PS2 consoles now... and I've got my gun ready to defend them if some cotton picking varmit comes a sniffing and a rooting forem."

Good job the PS2 hasn't been banned in the UK, along with all the games (yeah I know, exageration so sue me), my local GAME store would be over half empty... people like Lee-yoshi would be out of a job... casual gamers would have to find something new to inviegal. First Manchester United, next WWF/E wrestling, then the Playstation/2 (or is it in another order) what next? Perhaps they will take up knitting.

Regards

UK Jester

Well theyre certainly stopping manufacturing of them in California, if theyre made there... which i doubt they are, so i expect the distribution of them in Cali is also banned.

However, Sony are most likely to appeal, which means theyll probabily continue selling them all over the US, either resulting in no bans if Sony win the appeal and court judgement after, or face an even bigger fine if the appeal is refused and maybe be banned from selling them in other counties? Its all possible...

Everything about California is more up-tight than the rest of the US. I don't pay that much attention to anything non-Nintendo but I keep occasional tabs on the other guys. I don't think this ban would apply to the entire country the same way as it would in other partsof this country. I live in Texas which does seem to have much more leaniency than most other states.

Anyone know what's happened with this since?

Thats because nothing more has been said since by either parties, but its believed PlayStation2s are still being sold, just without the Dual Shock Controllers (And the controllers have stopped being sold themselves also).